The U-2513 is what's known as a Type 21 German U-boat. In the 1940s, the Type 21 was a secret weapon that threatened to change the course of two wars: WWII, and then later, the Cold War. During WWII, German hopes were riding on it, and the Allies were terrified of it. After the war, the British, Americans, and Russians couldn't wait to get their hands on it. It was a weapon that had the potential to change the balance of world power and determine the outcome of the Cold War. Join our Deep Sea Detectives, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, as they dive in over 200 feet of water some 95 miles offshore of Key West. There they investigate the wreck of a one of WWII's most significant naval innovations--a boat design that changed history.

Saw it also,they showed a lot of good pictures of Typ XXI`S. I liked the bunker shots where they were to be built.What sabotage are you speaking about?I also thought about doing one,but let me finish the Type VIIC that I am working on now. TD

The sabbotage was done by slave labor but that was not the only reason of the delays. The construcction system and schedules were so tight and strict that some parts of the boats were released by the factories as "finished" when there was still a lot of work to do on them!. When the uncompleted section arrived to the final assembly line they found that they were missing pipes, parts, etc. For fixing those "errors" they had to spend a lot of time. Something similar happened during soviet subs construction: fear of being off schedule implied that some parts of the subs were not finished or ill finished.

I like the documentary but I think it was rather silly in keeping "the mistery" of why that particular Typ XXI was sunken in the Keys. It's a pitty that they didn't show that surviving Type XXI bunker where some boats are still there covered by the concrete ceiling.

A few years back. I was talking to a buddy in Germany about some sub bunkers that still had U-boats in them; maybe the same ones you mentioned. He said there used to be ways one could get inside, and they used to go down and play in them when they were kids. It was kind of dangerous; might have been some mishaps; and the local gov'mint people decided to fill the bunkers in with rip-rap and cement to keep people out of them. I don't rememer if he said they filled in the entire bunkers, or just the access routes. But now the subs are entombed and can't be reached anymore. Make ya wanna cry or what?

Pat

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Captain Nemo wrote:A few years back. I was talking to a buddy in Germany about some sub bunkers that still had U-boats in them; maybe the same ones you mentioned. He said there used to be ways one could get inside, and they used to go down and play in them when they were kids. It was kind of dangerous; might have been some mishaps; and the local gov'mint people decided to fill the bunkers in with rip-rap and cement to keep people out of them. I don't rememer if he said they filled in the entire bunkers, or just the access routes. But now the subs are entombed and can't be reached anymore. Make ya wanna cry or what?

Pat

Yes, that's the bunker, the Elbe bunker. AFAIK it is in a private company yard and during the years some people not only went there to play but also to steal parts. In u-boat.net they have an article and photos about this bunker:

Didn't see the show but wished I had, the Type XXI has played an important part in the evolution of Sub designs particularly in the US Navy. Both U 2513 and U3008 were operated by the US Navy Post war. The Tang Class diesel were basically a derivative of the German Type XXI design. The sub that housed the first nuclear reactor also based on the same design.The Triton was also a modified Type XXI hull design and was the last US sub built to that plan. I'm sure many of you are much more knowledgeable than I about the importance of this type especially when married with American ingenuity. An inspiration to complete my Robbe Type XXI's sea trials.